Combination electrical connecter and fixture-supporting device



' R. B. BENJAMIN COMBINATION ELECTRICAL CONNECTER AND FIXTURE SUPPORTING DEVICE Jan. 13, 1925. 1,522,525

' Filed Dec. e, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. B. BENJAMIN COMBINATION ELECTRICAL CONNECTER AND FIXTURE SUPPORTING DEVICE FiledDe 6, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES -1,522,575 PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAG O, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COMBINATION ELECTRICAL CONNECT ER. AND FIXTURE-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Application filed December 6, 1920. Serial No. 42834.4.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented new and useful limprovements in Combination Electrical Connecter and Fixture-Supporting Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electrical connector devices and more particularly to a combination electrical connector and fixture supporting device.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide such a device which will be strong and compact in construction, durable and eliicient in use, and cheap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims. I I

In the drawings in which several embodiments of my invention are shown- Fig. l is a vertical axial section showing a receptacle and a combination electrical connecter and fixture supporting device associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a plug-in device;

Fig. 5 is a face viewof the receptacle and supporting bracket;

Fig. 6 is'a rear elevational view showing another form of fixture supporting bracket;

Fig. 7 is a part elevational, part sectional view showing another form of connection between the supporting device and fixture;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational View of part of the connecting bracket of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a part elevation-a1, part sectional view showing still another form of fixture connecting bracket;

Fig. 10 is a face view of the construction shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a section of the supporting plate substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the construction shown t box 15, an electrical receptacle 16', an electrical fixture 17, and a combination electrieroin comprises an outlet.

cal connector andfixturc supporting device 18 for mechanically supporting the fixture 17 and electrically connecting it with the receptacle l6.

The receptacle 16 may be substantially the same as the receptacle shown in my copending application Serial No. 419,967 filed October 27, 1920, and will not be described in detail herein. It will be su'tiicient to state that, as. shown in Fig. 2, it comprises an insulating base 19, a pair-ref receptacle con.- tact devices 20 mounted "on the base 19, and an insulating cover 21 for housing the corn tact devices 20, the contact devices 20 being located in suitable recesses in the insulating base 19 and cover 21. The cover 21. is provided with suitable funneled openings 22, for the entrance of the contact blades 23 into engagement with the contact devices 20. Each of the contact devices 20- comprise a substantially rigid contact member 2a and a yielding spring contact member 25, these contact members 24 and 25 extending parallcl to each other and opposite to each other and transversely to the contact blade 23, the contact blade being received between these members.

The receptacle 16 is held in place on the cover 26 of the outlet box 15 by means of a pair of screws 27 which extend through cover and are threaded into the inwardly struck stra s 28.

The com ination electrical connector and fixture supporting device comprises three main parts, a plug-in device 31 on which the contact-blades 23 are mounted, for making the electrical connection; a connecting and supporting bracket member 32 for making the mechanical connection with the fixture 17, and an annular swivclcd connecting member 33 for holding the plug-in dc- Vice 31, and also the connecting bracket 32 in proper relative position with respect to each other and with respect to the receptacle 16; This annular connecting member 33 may be of formed sheet metal and may be provided with a sort of cam acting bay- 'plate 26. The edges of the circular opening 36, from which the notches 35 extend, are bent inwardly to form a pair of helical cam edges 37 for engagement with the laterally extending ears 34 of the connector ring,

ofthe plug-in device.

so that as the connector ring is. rotated the helical edges 37 will cause the ring to be drawn inwardly to force the plug-in device 31 snugly into engagement with the cover plate 21 of the receptacle 15. The engage ment between the 'connecter ring 33 and the supporting plate 26 is thus asort of combination of bayonet joint connection ,and screw-threaded orhelica'l cam action, whereby a quick connection is efiected, and also a binding engagement such as would be obtained by screw connectio'n if effected. The swivel engagement of the connecter ring 33 with the plug-in device 31 is effected by the engagement of thev inwardly extending flange 38- of the connecter ring with the annular shoulder 39 on theinsulat'ing base The connection between the supporting bracket 32 and the swivel connecter ring 33 is effected by providing the bracket 32 with ayoke portion 41 which straddles the swivel connecter ring and engages behind the outwardly extending annular beaded portion 42 of the connecter ring. This outwardly extending annular beaded portion 42 of the co'nnecter ring not only' Serves as a retaining member for the yoke 41 but also serves as a thumbpiece or handle for screwing or rotating the connecter ring to connect it with the supporting plate 26.

The connectionbetween the fixture 17 and the supporting bracket 32 is effected by the engagement with the upwardly extending postor projection=43 of the bracket 32, with a transversely extending strap 44 which is seen ed to the canopy 45 of the fixture 17.

In ome instances it is desirable to provide insulation between the strap 44 and the post 43,"which may be effected by means of a piece of sheet fibre bent to straddle the strap at the point adjacent the post 43.

, Inorder to make the construction as co1npact as possible, the insulating base 40 of the prlug-in device may be .provided with a usto-conical boss portion 46 which extends into acorrespondmgly shaped depression in the cover 21, this boss portion 46 being provided with recesses 47 to provide clearance for and access to the binding screws 48, threaded into the contact blades 23.

The cover or supporting plate 26 may be secured to the outlet box 15 by means of a pair of screws 49, which extend through openings in the plate'26 and are threaded into cars 50 extending outwardly froin'the outlet box 15. In this construction it will be noted that the fixture 17 and the plug-in device 31 are both supported by the swivel connector ring 33 independently of each other, so that thestrain of supporting the fixture 1T does-not come on the plug-in device 31,- but is taken care'oi' directly by the i connector ring It will alsoibe noted that the connection between the swivel connector ring 33, and the supporting plate 26 may be quickly eil'ected by partial rotation of the swivel ring and that this connection forces the plug-in device 31 tightly into en-' gagementwith the cover 21.

In order to keep the yoke member 32 from slipping around on the swivel connecting ring 33, the yoke member is provided with an inwardly extending lug 51, which slips into the notch 35, previously referred to,

when the parts are'assembled. To make the connection, the combination electrical connecter and fixture supporting device is placed in proper position with respect to the receptacle, so that the blades 23 will enter into engagement with the contact devices 20. The swivel ring33 is placed so that the ears 34 will register with the notches, 35 and this ring is then pushed in and turned to move the ears 34 back of the plate 26, the ears 34 engaging the helical edges 37 to .1 force the plug-in device 31' into proper position with respect to the receptacle 16. The fixture 17 is then simply hung on the post or hook 43 of the support-v ing bracket 32 the wires 51 being slack enough to permit the above method of-assembly. I r

In Fig. 6, the construction is substantially the same as in the form previously described, except that here the fixture supporting bracket 52 is permanently secured to the transversely ext-ending strap 53 of the 'fixture 54 in, any means of rivets 55.

In Figs. 7 and 8, the construction is substantially the same 'as in the form previously described, except that here the swivel con necting ring 56 is provided with a flaring collar or neck 57 which forms an annular channel to receive the yoke member 58 to which the transversely extending strap 59 is secured.

In-Figs. 9 and 10 the construction is substantiall the same as in the form previously suitable manner as by describe except that here thefixturesupi struck fingers 61, which engage insidet extending fiange 62 of the swivel connecter ring 33. In this form in order to keep the supporting bracket 60 in upright position, the insulating base 40 is provided with a re cess 63 into which the inwardly extending finger extends. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:""

1. A side Wall fixture construction comprising a flat flush plate having a circular opening therein, a receptacle mounted behind said plate having a portion extending across said opening substantially flush with said plate, a plug-in device having contact blades inserta'ble through said'opening intov engagement with the receptacle contacts, a fixture electrically connected with said contact blades, and ineans for securing said fixture in position with respect to-said receptacle, comprising a ring swiveled about said I plug-in device, said ring and plate being provided with bayonet joint connecting a means, the edge of said opening being bent inwardly to whereby -sai ring will be drawn toward said receptacle in making the connection.

2. A side wall fixture construction comprising a flat flush finishing plate having a circular opening therein, 1 a receptacle mounted behind said finishing plate having a portion extending across saidopeningsubstantially flush with said plate, a plug-in device having contact blades insertable through said opening into engagement with the receptacle contacts, a fixture electrically connected with said contact blades, means for securing said fixture .and plug-in device in position with respect to said receptacle, comprising a ring swiveled about said plug-in device and a yoketo which said fixture is secured, having a swivel connection therewith.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

dprovide a helical cam surface and straddling said ring and 

